a panorama of giving

I recently heard someone lamenting over the "forced buying" holidays bring. they associated giving with gifts, gifts with money, so giving for them meant buying. as a creative person who for four years was also a poor student I don't share their conclusion. while giving can mean buying that is a very narrow definition.

treating ourselves is sometimes considered selfish but in order to have energy and creative fuel to give to others we need to start with ourselves:
    •    taking a relaxing bubble bath
    •    spending time on a personal hobby/project
    •    curling up with tea and a good book
    •    taking a photo walk
stopping to spend time with ourselves can help clear our minds, increase positivity and remind us that we are special people with valuable  talents and interests.

ways to share your talents with others:
    •    perhaps you and a friend (or group of friends) can agree to not exchange gifts but find another way to show your mutual appreciation for one another
    •    playing boardgames, going on a walk, building a snowman
    •    baking cookies for others, (you can even make it a cookie party!)
    •    sharing a meal, (you can make one with others, have it as a potluck, or make a meal for others)
    •    helping someone with their chores
    •    housesitting when a friend is out of town so they don't have to worry about their plants, pipes or pets
    •    keeping the path to your mailbox and fuel tanks clear of snow and ice 

sharing your talents (or combined talents of you and a group) with the community is also a great way to reach out:
    •    volunteering at a library, animal shelter, soup kitchen or another organization to which you feel pulled to contribute
    •    shovelling or plowing snow for others - perhaps you know an elderly person who needs their driveway cleared, or a neighbour who's been away during a recent storm (depending upon where, it may be best to get permission first). 
    •    around our neighbourhood people with quads/four-wheelers help out by going around the sidewalks of their block with a snowplow on the front of their machine - it's awesome for those who walk to work!
    •    donating to a food bank and/or becoming involved with a community garden collective
    •    giving of your talents in some way and perhaps drawing together friends' talents to help during the winter (for example connecting with an organization who helps winterizing homes if you have the skills and resources they need)
    •    giving disused items in good shape, (such as computers, books, clothes, instruments, furniture and kitchen items), to schools, shelters, libraries, community centres, etc.

with an open mind and some imagination, you can discover numerous ways to give during the holidays and throughout the year!  

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